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After five attempts, the incomparable Aliona Savchenko finally won her Olympic gold medal with new German citizen Bruno Massot. Wenjing Sui and Cong Han and Meagan Duhamel’s moving programs also landed them on the podium, while Tarasova and Morozov’s technical difficulties in the free skate forced them to settle for fourth.

Olympic posts are going to have to be formatted a bit differently than others. As you’ve probably noticed, the IOC and a variety of networks (NBC, which is affecting me in the state, CBC, EuroSport, etc.) are removing or blocking access to videos after the fact. I did the best I could to find links. Some are embedded into the post as normal; others are just linked into the responses.

Thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table during the Olympic Pairs Event!

Amber C. (@amberchamberlan) |A Skater’s PerspectiveTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I am a figure skater myself. I really love Ashley Wagner. That is about all you need to know about me.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Ashley Wagner’s 2017 World Championships short program.Events judged: Cup of China 2016, Four Continents 2017, Internationaux de France 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Craig S. (@timzbaygullls)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I competed Junior Pairs and Men until I was 20. I still show back up to the rink to throw down some triples every once in a while. I love tracking scores and make my own fantasy competitions with my best friends from the skating years!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? The most recently skated program not by one of Eteri’s students.Events judged: US Nationals 2018, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Madi L.(@not_lipton) | TumblrTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I am an avid figure skater and figure skating fan. Sometimes I spend way too much money traveling to watch competitions but make up for it by teaching learn to skate with my home club.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Tessa and Scott’s Sochi short dance.Events judged: Skate America 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Meghan B. (@meghanbartels)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I can’t tell loops from axels but I have strong feelings about costumes.Events judged: Rostelecom Cup 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Rafael Q. (@HRHtheDentist)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Been skating since I was 3, following competitions closely since 2009, etc.Events judged: Skate Canada 2015, US Nationals 2016, Skate America 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

LET’S GET JUDGING. Click “continue reading” below to continue. When you’re finished reading, leave a comment to let us know what you thought about Olympic pairs, how you think the real judges did, and how you think our judges did. If you disagree, sign up to judge an event later in the year and share your thoughts!

The Team Event at the Olympics was completely dominated by Canada, which didn’t face much of a challenge from the Olympic Athletes from Russia, the US, or Italy, all of whom were vying for podium spots.

Olympic posts are going to have to be formatted a bit differently than others. As you’ve probably noticed, the IOC and a variety of networks (NBC, which is affecting me in the state, CBC, EuroSport, etc.) are removing or blocking access to videos after the fact. I did the best I could to find links. Some are embedded into the post as normal; others are just linked into the responses.

Please also note that most judges responded before the men’s event took place (and many before pairs, as well).

Thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table during the Olympic Team Event!

Emily E. (@JoyofEmily)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Life long obsession with the ice. Currently coaching, passing on my love of the Kerrigan Spiral.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Insert any program skated against Kaetlyn Osmond in 2016/17.Events judged: Team Challenge Cup 2016, Throwback: 1994 Olympics Ladies, US Nationals 2017, NHK Trophy 2017, Olympic Team Event 2018

Hannah C. (@hannahskates96) | A Skater’s PerspectiveTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I have been competing for 14 years. I am also a skating coach and hope to make that my career!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Almost anything from Ashley Wagner.Events judged: Four Continents 2016, Trophee de France 2016, US Nationals 2017, Rostelecom Cup 2017, Olympic Team Event 2018

Iris W. | TumblrTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. First watched figure skating during the 2010 Olympics and loved it! Before last season, I was a more casual fan, but over the past two years I’ve learned a lot after finally taking a deep dive into figure skating!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Gilles/Poirier 2015-16 FD.Events judged: Olympic Team Event 2018

Keiko A.(@glitterhapsody)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Learned how to skate when I was younger. Casual fan during the broadcasts on ESPN and during the 2010 Olympics; turned into a quasi-uber around Sochi. What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Relative to the scores on that day – Mao Asada’s Sochi FS.Events judged: Japanese Nationals 2017-2018, Olympic Team Event 2018

Keira C. (@tripletoes)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I figure skated as a child but stopped at age 10. I fell back in love with the sport when I caught the 2014 US National Championships on TV and have been obsessed since!!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje’s free dance from 2015 Worlds.Events judged: Four Continents 2016, Throwback: 2002 Olympics Pairs, Cup of China 2016, European Championships 2017, Skate Canada 2017, Olympic Team Event 2018

Mara H. (@MaraAlyseGH) |The Judges’ TableTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan, if any. Tara Lipinski 1997, and I’m not even sorry. I run this website and I’ve somehow only judged two events.Favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years: Ashley Wagner’s FS, US Nationals 2017Events judged: Skate America 2015, Olympic Team Event 2018

LET’S GET JUDGING. Click “continue reading” below to continue. When you’re finished reading, leave a comment to let us know what you thought about the Team Event, how you think the real judges did, and how you think our judges did. If you disagree, sign up to judge an event later in the year and share your thoughts!

After an EXCEPTIONAL pairs event over the last two days, the men have a lot to live up to. Thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table for the 2018 Olympics Men’s Event! Another judge may be added this week.

Arlisse L.(@fanspirals)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I grew up skating, but stopped after I learned how to do cross overs. Once, Mirai Nagasu retweeted my reaction to her triple axel and I actually cried a little bit.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Tatsuki Machida at 2014 Worlds.Events judged: Rostelecom Cup 2017, Olympic Men’s Event 2018

Clara P. (@jimboppa) |You Only Lutz OnceTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Besides writing for You Only Lutz Once, I also try translating updates on Team Korea. I was one of the two “banner-waving girls caught on TV too many times at the 2016 Four Continents Championships. Jin Seo Kim hugged me at 2016 Asia Open Trophy.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Michael Martinez’s short program at 2017 Nebelhorn Trophy. Events judged: Junior Grand Prix Final 2016, Four Continents 2017, NHK Trophy 2017, Olympic Men’s Event 2018

Emily W. (@Em_Wilmes)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Last year at Skate America I stalked Jorik Hendrickx until he caved and told me where he was sitting; becoming a full blown stan was worth it for that picture. What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Is there anyone more #robbed than Zijun Li? (No.)Events judged: Rostelecom Cup 2016, Four Continents 2017, Skate Canada 2017, Olympic Men’s Event 2018

Jared A.(@JaredMAllen) |InstagramTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I’m a lifelong fan of the sport and decided to learn how to skate, purely to have more info to influence my judgements! Now I’m a competitive skater myself and I absolutely love it.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Satoko’s FS in Boston.Events judged: Skate America 2017, Olympic Men’s Event 2018

Sara J.(@getmerescued)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I went to 2015 Nationals in Greensboro and 2016 Worlds in Boston and cried the entire time. I’ve watched skating since 1996 – which means I’m super old. I saw like a thirteen year old Nathan Chen and who knew that I was in the presence of royalty? (I totally did!!!)What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? I rewatched some of the 2014 Olympics free skates again recently and the fact that Yuna Kim did not win still irritates me!!Events judged: NHK Trophy 2017, Olympic Men’s Event 2018

The first figure skating medals of the Olympics have been awarded – unsurprisingly, to Canada, Olympic Athletes from Russia, and the US – and we’ve already begun the first individual event. The pairs teams laid it down last night, earning personal best after personal best. With so many teams so close in points (7 teams between 74 and 77!), the free skate is likely be a bit of a roller coaster. Della Monica/Guarise are the unlucky competitors who got 74 on the nose, far outshone any previous performances of theirs, and still have to skate in group 2.

The team event rejudging will be up at the end of the week. In the meantime, thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table for the 2018 Olympics Pairs Event! (Another judge may be added this week.)

Amber C. (@amberchamberlan) |A Skater’s PerspectiveTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I am a figure skater myself. I really love Ashley Wagner. That is about all you need to know about me.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Ashley Wagner’s 2017 World Championships short program.Events judged: Cup of China 2016, Four Continents 2017, Internationaux de France 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Craig S. (@timzbaygullls)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I competed Junior Pairs and Men until I was 20. I still show back up to the rink to throw down some triples every once in a while. I love tracking scores and make my own fantasy competitions with my best friends from the skating years!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? The most recently skated program not by one of Eteri’s students.Events judged: US Nationals 2018, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Madi L.(@not_lipton) | TumblrTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I am an avid figure skater and figure skating fan. Sometimes I spend way too much money traveling to watch competitions but make up for it by teaching learn to skate with my home club.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Tessa and Scott’s Sochi short dance.Events judged: Skate America 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Meghan B. (@meghanbartels)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I can’t tell loops from axels but I have strong feelings about costumes.Events judged: Rostelecom Cup 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

Rafael Q. (@HRHtheDentist)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Been skating since I was 3, following competitions closely since 2009, etc.Events judged: Skate Canada 2015, US Nationals 2016, Skate America 2017, Olympic Pairs Event 2018

THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS ARE HERE. The team event starts TONIGHT/THIS MORNING, depending upon where in the world you’re located. And if that place is Europe – I’m so sorry. I found a new alarm you can set to go off in the middle of the night over the next two weeks.

The Judges’ Table is going to do things a little differently over the next two weeks. Instead of one judging panel for all disciplines, judges will be split up between the four disciplines and the team event. More than 65 people expressed interest in judging an Olympic event, so while I’m trying to include as many people as possible, I may not be able to get you on a panel. I’m attempting to create panels that aren’t entirely biased towards one skater or team, but I’m also just one person trying my best, so we’ll see how that goes!

Thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table for the 2018 Olympic Team Event!

Emily E. (@JoyofEmily)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Life long obsession with the ice. Currently coaching, passing on my love of the Kerrigan Spiral.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Insert any program skated against Kaetlyn Osmond in 2016/17.Events judged: Team Challenge Cup 2016, Throwback: 1994 Olympics Ladies, US Nationals 2017, NHK Trophy 2017, Olympic Team Event 2018

Hannah C. (@hannahskates96) | A Skater’s PerspectiveTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I have been competing for 14 years. I am also a skating coach and hope to make that my career!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Almost anything from Ashley Wagner.Events judged: Four Continents 2016, Trophee de France 2016, US Nationals 2017, Rostelecom Cup 2017, Olympic Team Event 2018

Iris W. | TumblrTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. First watched figure skating during the 2010 Olympics and loved it! Before last season, I was a more casual fan, but over the past two years I’ve learned a lot after finally taking a deep dive into figure skating!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Gilles/Poirier 2015-16 FD.Events judged: Olympic Team Event 2018

Keiko A.(@glitterhapsody)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Learned how to skate when I was younger. Casual fan during the broadcasts on ESPN and during the 2010 Olympics; turned into a quasi-uber around Sochi. What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Relative to the scores on that day – Mao Asada’s Sochi FS.Events judged: Japanese Nationals 2017-2018, Olympic Team Event 2018

Keira C. (@tripletoes)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I figure skated as a child but stopped at age 10. I fell back in love with the sport when I caught the 2014 US National Championships on TV and have been obsessed since!!What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje’s free dance from 2015 Worlds.Events judged: Four Continents 2016, Throwback: 2002 Olympics Pairs, Cup of China 2016, European Championships 2017, Skate Canada 2017, Olympic Team Event 2018

Mara H. (@MaraAlyseGH) |The Judges’ TableTell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan, if any. Tara Lipinski 1997, and I’m not even sorry. I run this website and I’ve somehow only judged two events.Favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years: Ashley Wagner’s FS, US Nationals 2017Events judged: Skate America 2015, Olympic Team Event 2018

Four Continents is typically not as intense as Euros in an Olympic year. With so much travel required for so many of the athletes, and the competition itself taking place to close to the Olympics, it’s not realistic for the top North American athletes to compete. Despite this, the event featured some fantastic skating from all parts of the world, including several very satisfying final competitive performances (Grant Hochstein and Elladj Balde have confirmed their retirements).

And, uh, not to scare anyone, but the Olympics start in a week and a half. On that note…

Thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table during the 2018 Four Continents Championships!

Erica G.(@egaley)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I’ve been figure skating for 27 years, and a Canadian Skating Official for the last 6. I still get giddy when I put on my skates and hit clean ice, and being an official has given me a whole new perspective on why we do what we do.Events judged: Skate Canada 2017, Four Continents 2018

Joseph K.(@thebrothaj)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Former skater (Back in the stone age of the early-mid 80’s… I had a FABULOUS quarter turned double lutz!) Skating fan for life.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Kostner, 2014 Sochi. Deserved silver.Events judged: Cup of China 2016, US Nationals 2017, NHK Trophy 2017, Four Continents 2018

Kara M. (@NamasteRead)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I took lessons when I was 12-15. Been a superfan since 2014.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? I still feel like Mirai Nagasu is underscored almost every time she skates.Events judged: Rostelecom Cup 2016, Russian Nationals 2016-2017, Cup of China 2017, Four Continents 2018

Kelly C.(@KACkelly)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I first became a figure skating fan during the 1994 Olympics, when I was staunchly #teamnancy. So began my life of rooting for the Ones Who Do Not Win. I was more of a casual viewer until 2014, when I fell back in love with watching the sport.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? I can’t choose. Justice for my faves!Events Judged: Four Continents 2018

Punk S.(@PunkSalchow)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I was raised exclusively on Michelle Kwan spirals.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Wakaba Higuchi 2017 Worlds.Events Judged: Four Continents 2018

Tiffany L. (@TiffLangston)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Stanning for skating since 1994! What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Any time Satoko Miyahara skated in the 2014-2015 season.Events judged: Skate America 2015, US Nationals 2016, Team Challenge Cup 2016, Rostelecom Cup 2016, World Championships 2017, Internationaux de France 2017, Four Continents 2018

LET’S GET JUDGING. Click “continue reading” below to continue. When you’re finished reading, leave a comment to let us know what you thought about Four Continents, how you think the real judges did, and how you think our judges did. If you disagree, sign up to judge an event later in the year and share your thoughts!

The Four Continents Championship began yesterday! Unlike Euros, 4CC happens so close to the Olympics (and requires so much travel for North American athletes) that federations often take the opportunity to send their next set of skaters to an ISU championship. While the top Japanese ladies, including two Olympians, did choose to compete here and lead for now, American teams that qualified for neither the Olympics nor Worlds are sitting atop the pairs and dance standings after the short (the men’s short is today).

Thanks to these judges for sitting at The Judges’ Table during Four Continents 2018!

Erica G.(@egaley)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I’ve been figure skating for 27 years, and a Canadian Skating Official for the last 6. I still get giddy when I put on my skates and hit clean ice, and being an official has given me a whole new perspective on why we do what we do.Events judged: Skate Canada 2017, Four Continents 2018

Joseph K.(@thebrothaj)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Former skater (Back in the stone age of the early-mid 80’s… I had a FABULOUS quarter turned double lutz!) Skating fan for life.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Kostner, 2014 Sochi. Deserved silver.Events judged: Cup of China 2016, US Nationals 2017, NHK Trophy 2017, Four Continents 2018

Kara M. (@NamasteRead)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I took lessons when I was 12-15. Been a superfan since 2014.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? I still feel like Mirai Nagasu is underscored almost every time she skates.Events judged: Rostelecom Cup 2016, Russian Nationals 2016-2017, Cup of China 2017, Four Continents 2018

Kelly C.(@KACkelly)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I first became a figure skating fan during the 1994 Olympics, when I was staunchly #teamnancy. So began my life of rooting for the Ones Who Do Not Win. I was more of a casual viewer until 2014, when I fell back in love with watching the sport.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? I can’t choose. Justice for my faves!Events Judged: Four Continents 2018

Punk S.(@PunkSalchow)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. I was raised exclusively on Michelle Kwan spirals.What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Wakaba Higuchi 2017 Worlds.Events Judged: Four Continents 2018

Tiffany L. (@TiffLangston)Tell us a little about your experiences with figure skating or as a fan. Stanning for skating since 1994! What’s your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Any time Satoko Miyahara skated in the 2014-2015 season.Events judged: Skate America 2015, US Nationals 2016, Team Challenge Cup 2016, Rostelecom Cup 2016, World Championships 2017, Internationaux de France 2017, Four Continents 2018